Small Fish Big Pond - Help!!!!

[JK Today]

Hi to all,
i am a new start up in the courier business and have been trading for just under 6 months. i am working alone currently and am trying to grow the business to a point where i can take on an employee and another van. i am finding the marketing very difficult in what seems to be a very competitive market. i have a web site, done flyer drops and mail drops in the gloucestershire area. please any help and advise would be very much appriciated

Thank you

Jacob Kirby

[stratigen]

Originally Posted by JK Today

Hi to all,
i am a new start up in the courier business and have been trading for just under 6 months. i am working alone currently and am trying to grow the business to a point where i can take on an employee and another van. i am finding the marketing very difficult in what seems to be a very competitive market. i have a web site, done flyer drops and mail drops in the gloucestershire area. please any help and advise would be very much appriciated

Thank you

Jacob Kirby

This is, as you say, a competitive market.

Can I ask, "what differentiates your business from all the others"? For example, are you faster, more reliable, 24-hour, guaranteed times, etc.

Then, consider that it's often not the "method of marketing" that's the problem, but the actual "content / message" that is being conveyed. For example, are the "things that make your business unique being explained".

Also, bear in mind, your "competition" isn't just from Courier companies. There are lots of "substitute products", such as Royal Mail, Taxis, etc., all of which deliver packages.

[Harry's Flowers]

Hi Guys,

So I have seen a couple of these "Get a free sample" things on tips etc,

Do they work?

the one above says its all free but is asking for PayPal or debit card payment, how much is it then?

Help, im lost......

Thankyou

[JK Today]

thanks for your help. i will try and be more specific with my marketing. does anyone have any ideas for diversifying the business in to any other fields that might appeal to other markets or sectors?

[Peter Bowen]

Being a small fish has some benefits (but I'll let you tell me what they are)

I think it's absolutely vital that you know exactly who you are trying to sell your services to. Obviously if it's outward bound packages you need to start within a reasonable distance of your home base. Take a map and draw a circle of say 1 mile, 5 miles etc with the center as your base.

Then look at which potential users of your service live in that area and learn as much as possible about what they need.

This will give you the knowledge you need to start designing a marketing system that will give you a constant flow of new and repeat business

Cheers

Pete

[CanzDesign]

Hi There.

I just took a look at your website. You need to change of all the content in giant sized words, for people in a hurry, they want to be able to see quickly what you do or don't do, without reading the whole page, far better to use a list with links straight to the information they want to know, even if the information is just future down the page.

• Delivered in an hour more...
• Same day Delivery more...
• UK Wide Overnight Delivery more...

Then underneath these list headings, write all about your business.
Some basic SEO would also help considerably.
Offer some gaurantee for your services, if we don't deliever ontime, you don't pay. testimonals from happy clients.
Consider revising the content on your pages, often the best content is in the last sentence!!!
I link at the bottom of each age to contact you....

As for diversifying, when you make a delivery, and have some spare time, stop and talk to your customers, ask them if their is anything you could offer them, or if they know of anyone that has specific needs.
Especially small businesses, they are more likely to have specific needs, that aren't catered to by large companies.
I know here, the only way to get good delievery rates is to prepay for 100-200 deliveries. Which is a massive outlay for a business that might take 6 to 12 months to use all their delivery tickets. I've heard many a time, that a book of 10 would suit them far better. But for you, 10 delieveries a month, if much better than none.

Drop you business cards off anywhere you can. On you website, ask people to contact you if they have a need you aren't offering offer them a discount for the first time you perform that service.

All the best.

[JK Today]

thank you so much for your help. i am now re designing web site.
i will be making efforts to sit down with my existing customers and try and cater for all of there needs to try and widen my services.

Thanks

JK

[CanzDesign]

Hi JK,

Do stop back and let us know how you are going.